Video game adaptations span far more than just TV. From Mario to Tomb Raider, so many of our favorite franchises have hit the silver screen — to middling results. For so long, video game movies have been seen as a bit of a curse. No matter where you look, there’s a Hollywood adaptation that seems to have lost the plot of a game series you grew up on.

Recently, however, it seems we’re at a turning point. The Fallout and Last of Us shows are great examples, but we’ve also seen an animated take on Castlevania, a gorgeous League of Legends side story in the form of Arcane, a Cyberpunk anime, and so much more. The world of gaming continues to expand, and the quality of these adaptations is only improving. Let’s discuss.

– David Silbert, Editor

The Punished Podcast Episode 21

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</button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">David Silbert | Donovan Harrell | Sam Martinelli |  Gary Wilson | Vaughn Hunt</figcaption></figure>



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MP3 Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Note: This episode contains swearing and sexual references.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Introductions





• 7:15 – Adaptations: What Makes Them Work?





• 16:32 – Devil May Cry Deep Dive





• 25:50 – Why Video Game Adaptations Are Difficult to Get Right





• 34:22 – What Do “Good” Adaptations Look Like and Why





• 56:30 – Mediums: TV and Film





• 1:16:00 – Mediums: Board Games, Music, Books, and More





• 1:27:40 – Adaptations We Hope To See





• 1:29:45 – Outro: Best Adaptations We Recommend + What We’re Watching + Playing

Music Credits

• Opening Theme Song for Season 1 of Fallout (2024) on Amazon, composed by Ramin Djawadi





• “The Curse of Yamato” from Capcom’s Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening (2005), composed by Tetsuya Shibata





• “Title Screen” from Nintendo’s Pokémon Red/Blue (1996), composed by Junichi Masuda

Related Reading:

• A Live-Action Legend of Zelda Movie Is a Tall Task





• The LEGO Game Boy Is the Latest Great Video Game Set (Plus 4 Other Recs)





• How Do We Feel About The Last of Us Season 2 So Far?





• The Last of Us Thinks Its Audience Is Dumb. It’s Right.





• Anime: The Old, the New, and the Best





• One Piece Netflix Live Action Review (Q&A)





• Pokémon Concierge Review: A Wonderful Little Delight

The post The Punished Podcast: Episode 21 – Video Game Adaptations appeared first on The Punished Backlog.